Rafael Nadal and Xisca Perelló celebrate 20-year love story from Mallorca teens to marriage and family

A teenage romance in Mallorca

Rafael Nadal’s life has been defined by Grand Slam trophies, painful injuries and global fame, but his most enduring partnership began long before the headlines. In Mallorca, Spain, Nadal met María Francisca “Xisca” Perelló when he was about 17 and she was around 14. The two were introduced through Nadal’s younger sister María Isabel, better known as Maribel, who was friends with Perelló.

Their relationship reportedly began in 2005, around the time Nadal was making a serious name for himself in professional tennis. Perelló knew him before fame became overwhelming and saw the person behind the tennis player while he was still growing into his career.

Both Nadal and Perelló have always been careful about keeping their relationship away from unnecessary public attention. Instead of sharing every detail, they allowed their romance to develop privately while Nadal travelled the world and Perelló built a life away from the spotlight.

Trust over constant presence

Being in a relationship with a professional athlete at the highest level is difficult. Nadal’s career involved constant travel, intense training, major tournaments and enormous pressure, plus injuries and disappointing losses.

In a 2011 interview with The Telegraph, Perelló explained that she did not travel to every event because Nadal needed his own space while competing. She believed following him everywhere could create pressure for both of them. Supporting someone, she showed, does not always mean being physically present every moment.

Perelló continued building her own identity. She studied business management at the University of the Balearic Islands and later studied at ESADE in Barcelona. She joined the Rafa Nadal Foundation in 2012 and eventually became its chief executive officer, focusing on helping children through sport and education in Spain and India.

14 years to the altar

Nadal and Perelló dated for around 14 years before marrying. They became engaged during a trip to Rome in 2018, keeping details private and correcting inaccurate wedding reports.

In October 2019 they married in Mallorca, the place where their story started. The wedding marked a new chapter rather than a beginning, coming after they had already experienced success, disappointment, travel and public pressure together.

After marriage they continued to protect their privacy. Perelló has rarely sought attention and Nadal has made clear he wants his family to live away from unnecessary media interest.

Family after retirement

The couple became parents after marriage. Their first son, Rafael, was born on 8 October 2022. Their second son, Miquel, was born in August 2025, named in honour of Perelló’s late father who died in 2023.

Becoming a father changed how Nadal viewed life outside tennis. When he announced his retirement from professional tennis in 2024, he spoke warmly about Perelló, thanking her for being his “perfect travel companion” and reflecting on the happiness he found returning home and watching his son grow.

During his farewell Nadal became emotional speaking about Perelló, noting they started their relationship in 2005 and years later stood together as a family. With Nadal retired, the couple now has more room for family life and the simple moments that were scarce during his playing career, while continuing to keep their family out of the spotlight as much as possible.